Embattled Republican Congressman Max Miller announced Tuesday that he has requested an ethics investigation into himself as he faces mounting calls to drop out of his reelection race. The calls stem from allegations of domestic violence and drug abuse made by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, the daughter of Ohio Republican Senator Bernie Moreno.
Miller has denied all of Moreno's allegations. In court filings, Moreno accused Miller of throwing boiling water at her, holding a gun to her head, and shoving her against a wall. She also alleged in audio recordings, released by Miller himself over the weekend, that he left syringes and marijuana near his bed. Miller has adamantly denied leaving needles by his bed, but admitted to testosterone replacement therapy and stated he was open about it with Moreno.
The congressman stated that renewed interest in his family affairs prompted him to file the ethics paperwork himself to clear his name. He expressed on X that he has "absolutely nothing to hide" and will provide the committee with all necessary documents. "The accusations continue to change, but my facts stay the same. I am looking forward to my colleagues reading everything for themselves," Miller wrote.
The announcement came hours after Miller's attorney, Aaron Minc, admitted to inadvertently releasing an "intimate" photo of the couple's two-year-old daughter in a cache of materials Miller posted online Sunday to defend himself. Moreno's attorney accused Miller of sharing an image that could constitute "child sexual abuse material" due to its nature. Minc rejected this characterization, stating the image showed a toddler with her shirt off and called the accusation "deliberately false, sensationalized, and disgusting."
Senator Moreno revealed that he picked up his granddaughter from Miller at a police station on Sunday, citing a need for protection. He also accused Miller of holding the child's favorite toy hostage for 48 hours. "My daughter lives in constant fear of this man," Senator Moreno told reporters Tuesday. "If there's any minimum standard for being an elected official, he fails to meet that minimum basic standard. I don't care about the politics at all."
The Daily Mail first reported on the domestic abuse allegations in May, publishing photographs Moreno took of her alleged injuries. Despite Miller's request for a House Ethics Committee investigation, it is unlikely that the panel will release findings before the November elections. President Donald Trump has publicly supported Miller, calling the situation "a very sad thing" and suggesting the families should resolve it themselves.